What happens when you’ve done everything right. Made a film, landed a rep, and still find yourself stuck? In this episode, Geoffrey and Kristy tackle the tough truth about stalled careers and how rebranding or shifting genres can reignite momentum. They also dive into Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, breaking down why its bold POV and long oners captivate audiences, and chat about Jonathan Nolan’s Fallout heading to New Vegas for Season 2. Plus, Kristy shares insights from her new vertical series The Witch Wolf’s Mate and why short-form storytelling is becoming a massive opportunity for indie filmmakers. Spoiler alert: We discuss key plot details from Presence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why even successful screenwriters and filmmakers hit career stalls
• How to rebrand or change genres strategically to stay relevant
• What makes Presence a masterclass in single-location storytelling
• Why vertical short-form filmmaking is the next indie wave
• Where to get free, verified weekly script leads from producers

Key Moments

• 00:23 First reactions to Presence and its surprising twist
• 07:30 The craft behind Soderbergh’s long takes and single-location setup
• 09:06 What to do when your screenwriting career stalls
• 15:08 Fallout Season 2 moves to New Vegas — what that means for writers
• 18:11 Kristy’s new vertical drama The Witch Wolf’s Mate and how RealShort changes the game

About the Guest
Kristy Leigh is a filmmaker and producer specializing in audience-friendly genre storytelling and emerging formats, including vertical dramas.

About the Host
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• Presence (dir. Steven Soderbergh; written by David Koepp)
• Fallout (Amazon) – Season 2 moving to New Vegas
• RealShort App – Watch The Witch Wolf’s Mate
• Script Leads by Geoffrey D. Calhoun – Free, verified weekly leads

Connect with Kristy Leigh

• 📸 Instagram: @kantoka127
• 🎬 Watch “The Witch Wolf’s Mate” on ReelShort

Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun

• 🌐 Website: The Successful Screenwriter
• 📸 Instagram: @screenwriterpod
• ▶️ YouTube: The Successful Screenwriter

🎬 Get Free Script Leads — be the first to know which producers are requesting scripts and accepting submissions.

Got a screenwriting question or challenge you want featured on the show? Drop it in the comments or message Geoffrey on Instagram.

#Screenwriting #Filmmaking #CareerAdvice #Soderbergh #Presence #Fallout #RealShort #ScriptLeads #IndieFilm #WritingCommunity

🎬 Get Free Script Leads — be the first to know which producers are requesting scripts and accepting submissions.

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